Monument to Major GeneralSir William Ponsonby(1772-1815) Who fellin Battle at Waterloo.Sculptors:William Theed andEdward Hodges Baily.

Monument to CaptainGeorge Blagdon Westcott.Fell in the Victory overthe French at Aboukir.Sculptor: Thomas Banks.

NIKE IN ENGLAND

NIKE TODAY

In any European capital city around the world you will find Nike. It is no coincidencethat London, capital city of the United Kingdom and centre of what was the 'Victorianera' displays this goddess throughout its great metropolis.

On the Victoria monument in front of Buckingham Palace she stands triumphant above queen Victoria, an earthly regentoverseen by the Greek Goddess of victory herself. Victory of course being the Roman name for Nike - in the empirethat adopted her as their own, as indeed did the Victorians after them.

The Napoleonic Wars saw the heroes of the British army and navy triumphant. These heroes are celebratedin sculptures on monuments such as Wellington Arch. Within St. Pauls Cathedral you will find sculpturesof the fallen embraced by 'Victory' (Nike).

Above: Nike in St. Pauls Cathedral, London.

Nike is on Marble arch. She is on memorials commemorating the first world war as well as more modern examples suchas Selfridges in London. This has 'the queen of time' an art deco Nike holding a Nike from classical antiquity.

Nike is also found worldwide. On civil war monuments in the USA. War memorials in Canada. Embodiedas Angels of peace from South America to Australia. She even appears in Japan as a manga character.

She is the universal symbol of Victory. On Olympic medals and football trophies. Nike inspired the RollsRoyce silver lady figurine. She is so ingrained into our world that we forget her classic pedigree. Religionshave adapted her physical attributes into Angels. Nike is the messenger of victory: - 'Angelos'(from the Greek, meaning messenger).